Moment In Time (eBook)

Serena Meg (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2022 | 1. Auflage
134 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
978-1-6678-7578-1 (ISBN)

Infos

As a healthy, young woman fresh out of paramedic school, Justine never would have guessed that she would end up in a wheelchair at just 22 years old. One moment in time can change everything. For Justine, that's all it took.

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Justine's last year of paramedic school was the hardest year of her life. At 22 years old, she starts a new job with eagerness to leave the stress of school behind and begin building her career. When an injury at work leads her into a year of pain and immobility, her eyes are opened her eyes to the other side of healthcare. Being a medical professional and being a medical patient are two drastically different roles, and Justine begins to discover that many of her relationships can't withstand the trauma of paralysis. What will she go through to get back to who she once was? The answer is easy: anything.

Textauszug

Chapter One: Normal Life

 

Beginning the day at 2pm is not a normal routine for me yet. Although it is nice to sleep in, it’s still hard to get used to being left in bed alone. Turning off my phone alarm I get up and am greeted with the small yips of my two kittens we had just gotten a few months ago. The two boys are long haired orange barn cats. A friend says they look like a manecoon in the way their long fur goes between their toes and how big they are already.

“Good morning boys” I say. “Who’s hungry?” They yell back making it known they are in fact hungry and would love to eat. We make our way to the kitchen where I pour out some of their food. They thank me with purrs as they eat their little orange butts in the air. I turn and go straight to coffee and some breakfast.. I mean lunch.. Whatever it is. My coffee corner is my favorite part of the apartment.

I have been loving my new job. I just graduated paramedic school and was hired at a very well known hospital to work in their ER assisting nurses. I was in charge of vitals, routine care, blood draws, and so much more. Even at 3AM I’m usually busy enough that I didn’t even notice. I’m helping people, that’s what I love to do. Make someone feel heard and like they are going to be taken care of. Don’t get me wrong, after paramedic school most are probably thinking why aren’t you in an ambulance? Well that is a good question, it is most simply because of test anxiety. There are two national exams you have to take to be a registered Paramedic. One is a physical run through different skills and the other is a written exam. This written exam gets me everytime. I have many job offers for the Ambulance however without that certification my degree isn’t enough. So instead of continuing to try and fail I decided to go somewhere I could continue to learn and hopefully get more confident . I go to our apartment gym to do a quick HITT workout. The gym at our apartment is very nice, there are a few machines and free weights. I’m not in the best shape of my life but I’m trying to get better, I’m still better than I was in high school so that’s something. Walking home I make sure to stop and check the mail, nothing but bills.

Alec comes home kissing me hello hes wearing dark jeans and a grey sweater. We make dinner together. Alec is so handsome, with brown hair short on the sides but longer on top, blue eyes that are always searching and full lips. He must’ve shaved his face this morning because his stubble is shorter than yesterday. When he kisses me I barely feel it but it does tickle if he kisses my neck. Today is my pick for dinner.

“Salmon from Aldi and veggies?” I say looking at him as he walks over to hug me, his captivating smile leaving me staring. Unable to stop to smile spreading on my face.

“Sure.” He says back, giving me a peck and tickles me a little on my side. I squeal and turn to get the ingredients out of the fridge.

“How was your day?” I ask looking for the frozen veggies. As we work together to make dinner and the cats are yipping at us from the smell of the salmon and we continue to discuss his day and my night before. We eat dinner and watch our show of the moment Ink Masters. Acting as if we have any idea what is actually good even though I’m the only one with a tattoo and it took less than 5 minutes to do. A little coffee cup outline on my outer wrist. Coffee is an obsession to say the least. We cuddled and joked around for a while. Every once in a while kissing. Its one of our favorite things to do together. It’s so comforting to be together, enjoying the easiness of our love. Being together for over two years we’re very comfortable together. Seeing the time I need to start getting ready, I start my shift at 11pm but I like being early so I’m getting ready at 9:45. It does take a half hour to get to work too.

“I’m going to get ready, I love you.” I say as I kiss him and give him a big hug.

“I love you too.” He says squeezing me and smiling. He changes the TV into his gaming channel and has it all set up to go to war with his newest beast. He works so hard at work being an Analyst at a big company. Walking the 10 feet to the bathroom and taking a quick shower, grabbing my scrubs for the shift, maroon is the color for my position so patients and coe-workers know what I can do to help without having to ask. It is still winter so I usually wear an undershirt, although sometimes I do regret it, getting sweaty from running around. I decided to go for it, it is a Monday night and not too snowy so it might be slow. It is negative 10 outside in Minnesota though so we might get an influx of homeless people searching for warmth. Beans is crying from outside the bathroom door because he doesn’t like being shut out. I open the door for him to run in still yelling at me for locking him out as he rubs against my leg. He lays at my feet smelling the water. I dance and sing to the music playing in the bathroom as I get ready. I don’t do much makeup because I’ll be wearing a mask the whole day anyway. COVID has really changed the job description for health care providers. Putting my long brown hair into braids and tieing them back as a bun so I don’t have to worry about it being in my face. Glasses and a mask really are enough for me to have to deal with.

Looking at myself in the mirror I see an average height midsize female holding her little orange kitten. I start dancing around with Beans, singing and laughing at his completely calm little body just chilling out in my arms. His brother Catpawcinno is now in the bathroom with us getting into the wet shower as he loves to do. Still singing I go to the kitchen with only my long sleeve and scrub pants on, I don’t want cat hair on my scrub top. I quickly pack up some leftovers and snacks for the night. Sometimes it isn’t really a full break, it’s more of just sitting at your desk eating something because we get so busy so I make sure to have options. Trying to stay healthy with that is a whole other story. Usually I have some fruit and veggies with hummus or a granola bar in my bag at all times. I also always made sure to have some energy squeeze packets for my water in case my coffee wasnt enough one night.

“Baby, I have to leave.” I say as I put on my scrub top and my long black jacket, ear warmer and mittens. He walks over grabbing Catpawcinno on his way.

“We need to say goodbye.” He says to him and he gives me a hug and a kiss. I kiss Cappy and put my work backpack on. “Love you, have a good night.” He says as I open the door.

“Love you too.” I say shutting and locking the door behind me. Running through the list in my head that I have everything I need. Snacks, a meal, water bottle, coffee, watch, phone, glasses, work badge. I think that’s all. I get into my old jeep liberty, turning it on waiting a few minutes for it to warm up. It’s about a 30 minute drive to work for me so I usually use that time to call my mom to check in or I listen to music.”Hi mom, how are you?” I say, excited to hear from her, it had been a few days of us missing each other.

“Hey girlie, I’m good. How are you? On your way to work?” She says. I can tell she’s a little sleepy. It is about 10PM so I don’t blame her.

“Yepper, I’m good. I’m not too tired today, so I’m excited. I’m on my third shift alone today. I love it. Most of the nurses I work with seem to like me.” I tell her.

“That’s awesome. I’m so glad you like it there.” She yawns. “Do you think it will be busy today?”

I answer. “Maybe it’s supposed to be a very cold night so I’m sure we will be. Mom, if I’m keeping you awake you can go to sleep.”

“No no it’s only another 10 minutes and I’ve missed you. Tell me about your past couple of days?” She says.

“Well yesterday I had a patient with the worst smelling GI Bleed, she was pooping out blood basically and I had to measure how much it was by pouring it into a long cylinder everytime. And I had Chili for dinner.” I laugh.

My mom says “Justine! That’s so gross. Is the lady okay?”

“I believe so, we brought her up to the ICU.” We continue to talk about other patients I’ve had the last couple of days and what Alec and I have been up to. I also got to hang out with my best friend Elizabeth. She and I always have a good time. Alec, myself, her and her boyfriend had all been living together only a few months ago. Once at the hospital in the worker parking lot I get ready to go in, almost forgetting my mask. As I walk in I say hi to the security guards and walk back to the ER. Putting my outerwear in my locker and my coffee mug that is now empty. I keep my backpack with me for easy access to the snacks and water bottle. Swiping my badge in and going upstairs I find my assignment and head over for a report from the previous ED Tech (emergency department technician).

“They are all crazy”, they say to another tech as I walk up.

“Uh oh, what am I coming into..” I say. Worried about what could possibly be getting this response from this tech who is usually very calm.

“Oh no I’m talking about a TV show..” As she continues to tell me about this TV show I take a deep breath. Thank goodness. I really am not looking for anything crazy right now. She then tells me about her very easy shift with two “sleepers” is what we call them. They could be people who need to sober up or mental health related or something that we just need time to find a bed for them in inpatient care.

“Mostly negative COVID tests.” She smiles at me waiting for my normal questions. I’m known for being “through” as I like to call it but...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 18.11.2022
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Romane / Erzählungen
• ISBN-10: 1-6678-7578-7 / 1667875787
• ISBN-13: 978-1-6678-7578-1 / 9781667875781